Millions of people have headaches every day, but most people don't bother to find out the source of them. A headache is either an intense or mild discomfort that affects either portions or the entire head. There are many different types of headaches, all of which have different symptoms. One of the most common types is a migraine headache. This type is characterized by an intense pounding feeling and can have other side effects as well. Such symptoms include: changes in vision (like seeing flashes, colors, or squiggly lines), tingling sensations in the face, confusion, sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells, and feeling lightheaded, nauseated, or tired.

Another common type is a tension headache. This type is caused by tightness in the neck and scalp area. The pressure of a tension headache is said to feel like your head is being squeezed by a vise. The tension can actually spread past the head to the neck and shoulders as well. This can cause tightening of shoulder and neck muscles, which will result in irregular muscle contractions and spasms. Another type is a cluster headache. This type is characterized by sudden starting and stopping and only affecting one side of the head. People sometimes have cluster headaches repeatedly at the same times of day. Unfortunately, this pattern of, “on and off” headaches can last for months at a time.

There is another type called a sinus headache, which is caused by pressure from inflamed or swollen sinus tissues. Sinus headaches are usually associated with sinus infections and the pain caused by them is in the facial area. This area includes: the forehead, cheeks, jaw, and behind the nose. Other symptoms include: fever, a swollen face, chills, and nasal congestion and secretion. A hormonal headache is caused be changes in estrogen levels during menstruation. Pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or menopause can lead to many of this type of headache.

Rebound headaches are common in people who have a lot of headaches. These people constantly take medication to get rid of their headaches and develop a tolerance to the medication. This causes them to take more to rid themselves of their headache increasing their tolerance. The bigger problem occurs when a lack of the medication actually begins to cause headaches. The type of headache that is the least common is an organic headache. This type is caused by serious complications of the brain such as tumors, infections, or hemorrhaging (internal bleeding). Organic headaches cause severe and intense pain and have other symptoms such as confusion, loss of balance, seizures, or impairment of speech.